Punjab Police Arrest Two Travel Agents for Human Trafficking to Cambodia

In the midst of the ongoing effort to make Punjab a safe and secure state in accordance with the directives of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Cyber Crime Division of the Punjab Police has arrested two travel agents for engaging in the illegal trafficking of individuals from the Punjab to Cambodia and other South East Asian countries, as stated by the Director General of Police (DGP) of Punjab, Gaurav Yadav, here on Wednesday.

Both Amarjeet Singh, who is the proprietor of Visa Palace Immigration in Mohali, and Gurjodh Singh, who was his accomplice, have been recognized as the individuals who were taken into custody.

According to the information, the travel brokers who were arrested were taking innocent people from Punjab to Cambodia with the promise of providing them with lucrative opportunity to work in data entry. They were coerced or tortured to work in cyber scamming call centers, which targeted Indian individuals in order to perpetrate cyber financial scams. Their passports were taken away from them upon arrival in Siam Reap, which is located in Cambodia.

DGP Gaurav Yadav stated that the State Cyber Crime Police Station had registered a first information report (FIR) and begun investigations in this case after receiving a statement from the victim, who had successfully escaped from Cambodia after making contact with the Indian Embassy in Cambodia. Yadav's remark was made in response to the victim's testimony. At the Police Station State Cyber Crime, a preliminary investigation report (FIR) number 19 had been filed in accordance with sections 370, 406, 420, and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), as well as section 24 of the Immigration Act.

According to him, early investigations have shown that the individuals accused of the crime have fraudulently transferred a large number of people to Cambodia and other South-East Asian nations, where they are forced to work at centers that are engaged in cyber scamming Indians. Additionally, he stated that the information of the individuals who are involved in cyber slavery is being gathered, and that relationships are being created with both the individuals and their families.

Providing additional information, the Assistant Director General of Cyber Crime Division V Neeraja stated that police teams from the State Cyber Crime led by Inspector Deepak Bhatia conducted a raid at the office of Visa Palace immigration and arrested both of the individuals who are being implicated.

She stated that the accused had disclosed more information indicating that they were engaging in illicit actions in conjunction with other agents from several states. At this time, she stated that additional investigations are being carried out in order to discover additional travel agents and their accomplices in order to apprehend them.

The Administrative Department of the Government of the Philippines (ADGP) urged the residents to be cautious of fraudulent immigration activities and to avoid falling for the false promises made by travel agents who offer rich job possibilities overseas, particularly in South-East Asian countries. Additionally, it is recommended that the background of the prospective employer be properly investigated, particularly in cases where labor is offered under the guise of a "Data entry operator" position. Additionally, it is recommended that the individual refrain from engaging in any unlawful actions online and get in touch with the Indian Embassy.

In the meantime, the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India has established an Overseas Workers Resource Centre (OWRC) as a single-window facilitation center. The goal of this center is to give the necessary support services to those who are interested in working in other countries. At the moment, the Overseas Workers' Rights Commission (OWRC) is running a helpline that is available around the clock (1800113090) to give emigrants and their families with information that is focused on their needs. If any other person from the state of Punjab has been a victim of this alleged fraud, they are encouraged to contact the State Cyber Crime Division, Punjab helpline at 0172-2226258 in order to receive additional assistance through the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi.